What are the major causes of water pollution? Explain.
Water pollution arises as a result of several human activities, which leads to the presence of several undesirable substances in water. Major water pollutants with their sources have been tabulated as follows:
Pollutant | Source |
Radioactive substances | Mining of uranium-containing minerals |
Heat | Water used for cooling in industries |
Plant nutrients
|
Chemical fertilizers |
Toxic heavy metals | Chemical factories and industries |
Sediments | Strip mining and soil erosion |
Pesticides | Chemicals used for killing fungi, weed, insects |
Micro-organisms |
Domestic sewage |
Organic wastes | Domestic sewage, decaying animals and plants, animal excreta and waste, discharge from food processing industries |
Roles played by major pollutants are:
1. Pathogens: These water pollutants include bacteria and other organisms. They enter water from animal excreta and domestic sewage. Bacteria present in human excreta (for example, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus faecalis) cause gastrointestinal diseases.
2. Organic wastes: These are biodegradable wastes that pollute water as a result of run off. The presence of excess organic wastes in water decreases the amount of oxygen held by water. This decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen inhibits aquatic life.
3. Chemical pollutants: These are water soluble chemicals like heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, nickel, etc. The presence of these chemicals (above the tolerance limit) can damage the kidneys, central nervous system, and liver.
Carbon monoxide gas is more dangerous than carbon dioxide gas. Why?
What are the harmful effects of photochemical smog and how can they be controlled?
Write down the reactions involved during the formation of photochemical smog.
Explain tropospheric pollution in 100 words.
What are the reactions involved for ozone layer depletion in the stratosphere?
What would have happened if the greenhouse gases were totally missing in the earth's atmosphere? Discuss.
Statues and monuments in India are affected by acid rain. How?
What do you mean by green chemistry? How will it help decrease environmental pollution?
What is smog? How is classical smog different from photochemical smog?
What do you mean by ozone hole? What are its consequences?
How do you account for the formation of ethane during chlorination of methane?
What are hybridisation states of each carbon atom in the following compounds ?
(i) CH2=C=O,
(ii) CH3CH=CH2,
(iii) (CH3)2CO,
(iv) CH2=CHCN,
(v) C6H6
What will be the minimum pressure required to compress 500 dm3 of air at 1 bar to 200 dm3 at 30°C?
What are the common physical and chemical features of alkali metals?
Calculate the molecular mass of the following:
(i) H2O
(ii) CO2
(iii) CH4
Assign oxidation number to the underlined elements in each of the following species:
(a) NaH2PO4
(b) NaHSO4
(c) H4P2O7
(d) K2MnO4
(e) CaO2
(f) NaBH4
(g) H2S2O7
(h) KAl(SO4)2.12 H2O
What is the basic theme of organisation in the periodic table?
Explain the formation of a chemical bond.
Choose the correct answer. A thermodynamic state function is a quantity
(i) used to determine heat changes
(ii) whose value is independent of path
(iii) used to determine pressure volume work
(iv) whose value depends on temperature only.
A liquid is in equilibrium with its vapour in a sealed container at a fixed temperature. The volume of the container is suddenly increased.
a) What is the initial effect of the change on vapour pressure?
b) How do rates of evaporation and condensation change initially?
c) What happens when equilibrium is restored finally and what will be the final vapour pressure?
The pH of a sample of vinegar is 3.76. Calculate the concentration of hydrogen ion in it.
In some of the reactions thallium resembles aluminium, whereas in others it resembles with group I metals. Support this statement by giving some evidences.
Dual behaviour of matter proposed by de Broglie led to the discovery of electron microscope often used for the highly magnified images of biological molecules and other type of material. If the velocity of the electron in this microscope is 1.6 × 106 ms–1, calculate de Broglie wavelength associated with this electron.
How would you explain the lower atomic radius of Ga as compared to Al?
Write chemical equations for combustion reaction of the following hydrocarbons:
(i) Butane
(ii) Pentene
(iii) Hexyne
(iv) Toluene
Write chemical reactions to justify that hydrogen peroxide can function as an oxidizing as well as reducing agent.
Depict the galvanic cell in which the reaction Zn(s) + 2Ag+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + 2Ag(s) takes place, further show:
(i) which of the electrode is negatively charged,
(ii) the carriers of the current in the cell, and
(iii) individual reaction at each electrode.
What do you understand by isoelectronic species? Name a species that will be isoelectronic with each of the following atoms or ions.
(i) F–
(ii) Ar
(iii) Mg2+
(iv) Rb+
Name a suitable technique of separation of the components from a mixture of calcium sulphate and camphor.
Explain the important aspects of resonance with reference to the ion.